The movie industry discovered Old Kernville late in the 1920’s. the rugged, breathtaking panoramas of the Sierra Navada’s and the Kern River became the filming location of choice, distinguishable in numerous “Westerns” of that era and later, in the 1950’s when television companies exploded into existence, with productions such as Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Bonanza, The Waltons, and a long list of others. By this time the old inn had been rescued and moved to it’s present location up-river, on the banks of the Kern, to survive the government-built dam that would flood the old town and create Lake Isabella, in 1953. It was called the Sierra South Lodge in those days. But the long tradition of accommodating the famous casts and crews of the movie and television industries continued. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Rod Cammeron, Audie Murphy, Tom Mix, Andy Devine, Yvonne Decarlo, Harry Carry and Gabby Hayes are just a few of the celebrities who mingled with the old-timers at the lodge during this filming days in the rugged valley.